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How often do you check your bank balance? Do you only do so when you get paid or when you need to make a transfer?
A regular bank balance check is a good habit, with many benefits - especially with your main current account, and if you haven't made a transaction in a while.
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Your balance shows you the amount you’re in credit or debit (overdrawn). It can include pending transactions still being processed but excludes any arranged overdraft limit.
Your available balance is the amount of money you have accessible at that moment to spend, taking into account certain pending transactions.
You’ll see both terms on your bank statement, which is a log of all the transactions on your account over a set time, normally a month. It includes all debts, credits, interest, and fees.
You’ll get an automatic text message every time you make a transaction. This includes the transaction amount and remaining balance. This is the easiest way to keep track of your balance.
One of the simplest and most common ways to check your bank balance is through online banking and mobile banking. Most major banks offer online platforms and applications that are easy to use and secure. If you haven’t already registered for online banking, you’ll need to do so first and create a username and password.
You'll need to verify your identity, create log on details, choose a security question, and read and accept our terms and conditions.
To do a bank balance check online, log on to the website or app from anywhere. You can then view your current account or credit card ledger balance and available balance, see your transaction history and other details, and transact. And if you spot a debit order or payment you don’t recognise, you can normally report it through the platform. There is 24/7 Web chat support.
You can also set up alerts through push notifications, text or email to let you know when a transaction is recorded on your account.
Discover key features available through online banking and on the mobile banking app.
If you can’t access the internet or prefer to speak to someone, you can check your balance on your phone. You’ll normally find your bank’s 24-hour phone number under the 'Help & Support' or 'Contact Us' sections on their website, or listed on your statements.
Once you get through, you’ll need to provide your personal identification details to verify that it’s you before proceeding. Either set up Voice ID or use your 10-digit Phone Banking Number and 6-digit PIN.
You can then get information such as your bank balance, recent transactions, and other information.
Explore: Phone banking
Banks normally send you a monthly or quarterly statement, detailing your transactions and balance. You can normally opt to receive these in the post, or by e-statement, which saves on paper and postal charges.
Bear in mind that these are only sent out on specific dates, so the statements won’t be as up-to-date as checking your balance online.
If you need to print a bank statement, you can do so at home or request a statement in the branch.
If the above options aren’t possible, you can check your balance at an ATM. It won’t provide all your transactions, just a balance. Remember, some ATMs will charge for this, especially if it’s not your bank. You can also deposit or withdraw cash and get your balance on the ATM receipt.
Another way is to go into your nearest branch and ask a teller for your bank balance and other services, such as printing out a statement. Bear in mind you’ll need to provide some form of identification and may have to stand in a queue and wait for this, so it may not be as convenient as the other options.
If you're a Premier customer, you can arrange a meeting with your Relationship Manager.
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